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2013 Jaguar XJ

Ted West

Introduction
The Jaguar XJ arrives in style everywhere it goes. Its sleek design presents a statement of true luxury. Underway, it coddles passengers yet provides thrilling performance for the driver. We found the Jaguar XJ a harmonious balance of spirited performance, smooth operation, and poise.

New for the 2013 Jaguar XJ lineup is Jaguar's Instinctive All-Wheel Drive along with a new supercharged 3-liter V6.

A choice of 5-liter V8 engines remains available. The 2013 Jaguar XJL Portfolio comes with a powerful, velvety-smooth 5-liter V8 rated at 385 horsepower. The Jaguar XJ Supercharged and XJL Supercharged are powered by a supercharged 5-liter V8 of 470 horsepower. And for those who simply don't have time, there are the ICBMs of the line, the Jaguar XJ Supersport, XJL Supersport, and XJL Ultimate, all powered by a 5-liter supercharged V8 generating a full-speed, no-excuses 510 horsepower.

All-wheel drive makes the 2013 Jaguar XJ AWD a compelling choice for winter driving in the Snow Belt. Our test drives in both dry conditions and Canadian ice and snow found Jaguar's all-wheel-drive arrangement fully a match for its German competitors. (All-wheel drive is only available with the new V6.)

The V6 is a thoroughly qualified full-time, all-season engine that delivers splendid performance, while cruising at a salutary EPA-estimated 25 mpg Highway. We found throttle response linear and enthusiastic.

The normally aspirated 5-liter V8 in the XJL Portfolio is smooth and powerful, a superb powerplant, capable of thrusting the XJL to 60 mph in a very quick 5.4 seconds. It also delivers an EPA-rated 25 mpg Highway. All-wheel drive is not available with the V8-powered XJs, which remain the classic Jaguar rear-wheel-drive muscle-car sedan.

The Supercharged models launch from 0 to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds and deliver an EPA-estimated 23 mpg Highway. The top-of-the-line Supersport models catapult to 60 in a scant 4.7 seconds, still rating 23 mpg Highway.

Arriving in style, perhaps with a hint of majesty, is the XJ's greatest strength, but the big Jaguar is nowhere more in its element than on the highway at speed. This is a grand touring sedan carefully tailored to make no-nonsense rapid travel effortless, comfortable and pleasing to both driver and passengers. There is an almost old-fashioned finesse to the XJ, yet nothing is old-fashioned about the technological means by which it is achieved. Jaguars have always been road cars, with a distinctly sporting character, intensely focused ride quality and willing agility. While many large cars make long drives dull, drowsy, and fatiguing, an XJ's alert and alive character, with its live-wire feedback, act as a strong safety element, keeping the driver fully engaged in the act of driving.

Steering effort and live feel is finely calibrated to deliver an excellent combination of road information and firm controllability. The car's chassis dynamics are similarly alive, whether driving on snow with all-wheel drive or pressing hard in high summer. And despite considerable weight, the XJ's brakes are forceful, easily modulated for good control, and even under very hard use show no hint of brake fade.

Walkaround
Even at their lowest ebb a couple of decades back, when they were assembled with complete incompetence and scandalously unreliable, Jaguar sedans have always been like a Hollywood diva who can't say no to strong drink and pills. However deplorable the facts, Jaguars always been heartbreakingly, irresistibly beautiful.

The present line of XJ is every bit as irresistible, but it would be wildly irresponsible to imply that Jaguar's dark past any longer applies. Their beauty, no longer a snare, is today a joyous, trustworthy asset, accurately representing the reliable integrity lying beneath. This modern XJ diva has all her seams straight, knows her lines, and is so gorgeous that you'd give her an Oscar just for letting you look at her.

Riding on two lengthy wheelbases of 119.4 inches for the XJ and 124.3 inches for the XJL, with overall lengths of 201.9 inches and the deluxe 206.8 inches, this is a large touring sedan, out-spanning its luxury-sedan competitors, while out-styling them in the same swift gesture. It has a sleek shape, with muscular faux-coupe modeling that cunningly understates its size. You don't realize just how large the XJ, or especially, the long-wheelbase XJL, is until you're standing immediately next to it. Climbing into the cavernous XJL rear seat, it's hard to remember that such a huge car actually looked fast from outside. Beautifully done. The British are often thought of as stiff, but putting this feline Jaguar next to a BMW 7 Series, a dowdy Lexus LS, a big Mercedes, or even the much-admired Audi A8 makes them look like blocks of cheese.

From its bold grille back to its steeply raked windshield, the XJ forms a long, graceful curve slicing irresistibly through the air. The roof tapers gently rearward to a long fastback, enclosing the greenhouse and large luggage compartment. Blacked-out B-, C-, and D-pillars give the entire greenhouse a low, compact look. Visually, these elements reduce the overall size of the car. Combined with the XJ's nose-down, haunches-up lunging stance, at a distance it appears to be a much smaller sport coupe. On closer examination, it's a shock that this is a fully found grand-touring vessel of style, power and great speed.

Interior
Stepping into the Jaguar XJ is every bit as satisfying as its elegant exterior suggests. Jaguar sedans are richly supplied, as always, with fragrant leather and handsome inlaid wood trim. They have a distinctly boardroom feel: mature, handsome, businesslike, with none of their furnishings erring in the direction of excessive or showy complexity. The audio, navigation and climate-control instrumentation performs the same functions as in Jaguar's German counterparts, yet Jaguar systems are blessedly intuitive; operating them, the Owner's Manual stays in the glove box. They are prime examples of good ergonomics, a phrase German interior-systems wonks have all but forgotten.

Even the dashboard layout itself, while delivering the conventional information, does so in an efficient, pleasing way. A 12.3-inch high-definition screen projects a virtual analog speedometer, tachometer and related data in three dial faces, but these electronic instruments serve double duty. When fuel is low or the car needs to communicate other important information, a bulletin is communicated in the space occupied by the temporarily dimmed tachometer. (And honestly, in these days of electronic engine management, monitoring a tachometer is far less vital than it once was.) The font for these central dials, while small, is businesslike and properly legible.

Traditional Jaguar aero-like blower ducts above the center stack flank a handsome analog clock. Beneath these, an 8-inch touchscreen display provides access to such operational matters as climate control, outside connectivity and the fine standard Meridian high-end audio, comprising a 380-watt system of 14 speakers, including two subwoofers. The XJ Media Hub also delivers connectivity through two USB ports, Bluetooth audio streaming and an auxiliary input jack. Also available is the still more powerful Meridian 825-watt surround sound system with 15 channels and 20 speakers.

The XJ navigation package, elegantly simple and graphically pleasing, adds some convenience features drivers will appreciate. Approaching an intersection, Dynamic Zoom automatically magnifies the upcoming intersection to define lane choices. Similarly, the Road Sign Board displays overhead road sign information and lane preferences as you approach. A minimum of steps is necessary to set a destination, and entering Points Of Interest data has been made easier than in previous iterations. This is a highly successful navigation system that virtually anyone will find useful.

As has long been the case with Jaguar sedans, the seating and visibility of the XJ are excellent. The front seats have vast adjustability, and their firmness and side-bolster fit are a model of one-size-fits-nearly-all common sense. Long drives in an XJ are an experience to be anticipated with pleasure. Rear-seat dwellers also have nothing to fear, especially in an XJL; the vast acreage back there encourages sprawling out full length and eating grapes Roman-style.

Though the beltline of the XJ is relatively high around its occupants, thanks, in part, to generously sized side-view mirrors, outward visibility from the driving position never feels restricted.

The XJ trunk will welcome masses of luggage; no need to skimp traveling in this car.

Driving Impressions
In recent years, big luxury sedans have gotten better and better to drive. They have performance, athleticism and confidence-inspiring composure. Among these grandes dames, Jaguars have usually been at or near the head of the class. That is, until four-season buyers began to demand luxury sedans which, like SUVs, behave well in all four seasons. Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar's primary luxury-sedan adversaries, already had models with all-wheel drive, but Jaguar has not had all-wheel drive since the midsize 2001-2009 X-Type.

We first drove the Jaguar XJ all-wheel models in mid-winter Quebec, flogging them up and down maple-syrup trails in the Laurentian mountains. We drove them on frozen lakes and ice-racing ovals. Then we drove them in dreadful winter freeway ice and snow. They proved flawless, every bit a match for the competition. Providing you have a proper appreciation for the skills of winter driving, the XJ AWD models we drove were as sure-footed and stable as any nearly two-ton ice-buster you'd want to drive. If winter is your problem, add an AWD Jaguar to your road-test list and pray for bad weather. Of course, most thoughts about Jaguars won't involve snow.

The XJs we drove in warm weather were everything their reputation promises. These are big cars, and you can't fool Mother Nature; big cars feel big when you corner fast or brake hard. And when you pounce on the throttle, even with the quick supercharged 340-hp 3-liter V6 in our XJL Portfolio AWD, you feel the commotion as the car is pushed from zero to 60 in an impressive 6.1 seconds. The same car, minus the added weight and mechanical loss of all-wheel drive, achieves 60 in a sterling 5.7 seconds.

In any large car like this, major forces are in play, and after years of development, the XJ is a harmonious balance of spirited performance, smooth operation, and an indefinable element of poise. XJ throttle response is linear and enthusiastic. Steering effort and live feel is finely calibrated to deliver an excellent combination of road information and firm controllability. The car's chassis dynamics are similarly alive, whether driving on snow with all-wheel drive or pressing hard in high summer. And despite considerable weight, the XJ's brakes are forceful, easily modulated for good control, and even under very hard use show no hint of brake fade.

With a keyless press of the Start button, the XJ engine fires, and the unique, signature Jaguar Drive Control silver medallion pops up on the center console. Making your selection from Park, Reverse, Neutral, Drive, or Low, you are free to drive in fully automatic mode, letting the car make the dynamic decisions. Or you may choose to manually control the superb 8-speed ZF transmission with the paddle shifters. You may also select specialized driving modes that make dramatic difference in performance. By pushing the button for Winter Mode, you dramatically tailor power and traction, optimizing performance for snow and ice. Alternatively, selecting Dynamic Mode, you disengage degrees of automatic stability sontrol, allowing more wheel slip for high-performance driving. Jaguar even permits switching off stability control altogether, but be warned, don't try this at home.

The powerful and smooth normally-aspirated 5-liter V8, formerly powering the entire XJ line but now found only in the XJL Portfolio, continues to be a superb powerplant, thrusting the XJL to 60 mph in a very quick 5.4 seconds. It also delivers 25 mpg Highway, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Its only disadvantage is that it is not offered with an AWD package.

We also drove an XJL Supercharged with the 470-hp supercharged 5-liter. This large, elegantly appointed sedan was utterly exotic. Its mass and opulence were impressive, but when we opened the throttle, it was like feeling a great ocean liner suddenly rise up on plane. The Supercharged boiled forward to 60 in just 4.9 seconds. And in keeping with Jaguar's well-balanced philosophy, despite its mass, the car felt surprisingly athletic and controlled while doing so. More startling still, the Supercharged delivers 23 mpg Highway on the EPA scale.

In short, the XJs achieve the improbable, being all things to all drivers. They are happy to do most of the work of driving, letting you relax and enjoy the ride. Or they will let you take over completely, performing all the most acute driving operations entirely on yours own. Either way, the XJ defines the contemporary large luxury sedan. It is very likely to find increasing numbers of delighted owners.

Summary
Jaguar XJs have always been elegant, dashing drivers' cars, but until recently, they've lacked all-wheel-drive and a thrifty small-displacement engine. Now they have highly effective all-wheel-drive individually tailored to Jaguar's driving preferences and a V6 with EPA Highway fuel mileage ratings up to 25 mpg. The XJ's automotive and broader social appeal has never been greater, and its sales stand poised to grow vigorously.

The XJ model enters its 45th year in production in 2013. Built for drivers and those being chauffeured, the 2013 Jaguar XJ is sold with a choice of three engines in North America. For 2013, a fuel efficient supercharged, 3.0-liter V-6 engine is a new addition to the Jaguar XJ line-up. A naturally-aspirated V-8 powerplant is still available for owners preferring 5.0-liter performance. For upscale, cat-like movement, Jaguar buyers will be attracted to the supercharged version of XJ. The 2013 Jaguar XJ Supercharged represents a well-crafted balance between old-world luxury and modern driving.

The 2013 Jaguar XJ Supercharged is offered in both standard and extended wheelbase versions. Sleek, 21st century luxury car of the Jaguar XJ Supercharged is presented with a look to justify the engine’s power production. Defining exterior styling attributes on the Supercharged model of the Jaguar XJ includes 20-inch Kasuga alloy wheels, four-tipped exhaust and hood louvers marked with “Supercharged” lettering. A total of thirteen exterior color choices exist on the Jaguar XJ Supercharged sedan.

Using Jaguar’s AJ eight-cylinder engine design, the Eaton twin-vortex supercharger adds some serious roar to the 5-liter powerplant. The 2013 Jaguar XJ Supercharged is tuned to produce 470 horsepower from the forced-air induction 5.0-liter V-8 engine. While the engine is the same, the 2013 model year Jaguar XJ Supercharged sedan has received some powertrain-related enhancements. First, power from the 470-horsepower engine is channeled through a brand-new eight-speed automatic transmission. Second, the 2013 XJ Supercharged receives fuel-saving stop/start technology that temporarily shuts down the engine at a standstill. Operating in ‘eco mode’, the stop/start system can prove annoying intervention into the driving experience. Third and finally, there is an optional Sport and Speed Pack offered on the 2013 Jaguar XJ Supercharged. In addition to adding exterior and interior features, the Sport and Speed Park increases the electronically-limited 155 miles per hour top speed to 174 miles per hour.

Driving the 2013 Jaguar XJ Supercharged sedan is truly an exciting experience. With the extensive use of aluminum, the 2013 Jaguar XJ Supercharged is gifted with sports sedan driving characteristics. From a standstill, acceleration is one notable area of the XJ Supercharged model benefiting through lightweight construction. The XJ rides buttery smooth thanks to a specially tuned suspension.

On the road, the 2013 Jaguar XJ Supercharged handles responsively thanks to a four-wheel independent suspension making use of several electronic aids. Active Dynamics active damping is at the forefront allowing the driver to specify three modes of riding from the JaguarDrive selector. Dynamic Stability Control and Electronic Traction Control are other features contributing to an exhilarating ride in the large luxury car. An Active Differential Control on the XJ Supercharged sedan provides improved cornering performance and acceleration. The eight-speed transmission can be acclimated to Winter or Dynamic modes. In winter mode, the gearbox programming accepts second gear to launch itself for better traction on slippery, snow-covered roads. The Dynamic mode raises the gearshift points for a more aggressive sound and feel from the XJ Supercharged. Suspension damping is also configured firmer while the Dynamic program is set on the vehicle.

Blind spots are not much of an issue on the 2013 Jaguar XJ Supercharged sedan. Standard back-up camera, radar-based blind spot monitoring system as well as front and rear parking sensors provide a driver with the confidence of easing the vehicle into tight areas. The larger size does become an obstacle when making tight turns but even then the Jaguar XJ Supercharged can be negotiated. At any speed, the active handling features of the XJ Supercharged sedan will work in maximizing the driver’s ability to avoidance collisions. High performing four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock control will stop the four-door luxury sedan firmly. Defending against worst case scenarios, two-stage front, front passenger side and side curtain airbags are ready to deploy and protect passengers.

A harmonious theme mixing traditional luxury with modern electronic conveniences is present inside the 2013 Jaguar XJ Supercharged’s cabin. A wide selection of leather trim color choices and wood veneers can adapt the interior to individual tastes. Standard equipped with Rich Oak, another defining touch on the XJ Supercharged sedan is visible stitching in contrasting coloring. Interior noise is kept to a minimum with only the V-8 engine serving as the only sound penetrating the well-insulated cabin. Listed as a five-seat vehicle, an adult in the middle rear seat passenger could be a tight fit.

A four-zone climate control system provides an individual habitat for passengers as fine soft grain leather offers premium cushioning for riding. The driver and passenger seat are treated to the perk of 12-way power adjustments. Active ventilated leather as well as massage function rewards the front riders of the Jaguar XJ Supercharged with spa-like relaxation. Front and rear seats of the 2013 Jaguar XJ Supercharged can be heated as well as cooled. A touch-open glove box, panoramic roof and keyless entry are additional convenience features on the vehicle.

The Jaguar XJ Supercharged is complemented by a standard full-function infotainment system operating from an eight-inch touchscreen. Response time for the unit is a little slow but the system offers a full array of music and navigational functions. A 20-speaker Meridian audio system features two subwoofers and 15 amplifier channels and achieves fantastic 7.1 surround sound inside the luxury sedan’s cabin.

Competing against luxury cars like the Audi S8, Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the Lexus LS 460, the 2013 Jaguar XJ Supercharged sedan will satisfy the sport-minded driver looking for high-class motoring.

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